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REVIEW
INTRO
JVC's latest VHS-C palmcorders range features an interesting mixture of
new and old ideas, we have been taking a close look at the £700 GR-AX70
COPY
The VHS-C format has had a pretty rough time of it lately but last year
JVC almost single-handedly kept the system afloat and in contention with a
range of highly innovative machines. Can they sustain the revival of interest
in 1994? We're about to find out with the first of their new season
palmcorders, due to reach the shops over the next few months.
It's the GR-AX60, which will be joined by the AX40 and AX70, we'll look
at them in more detail later on. The AX60 is derived from the AX75, another
very well-equipped mono palmcorder with 12X two-speed zoom, 6-mode program AE
system, video light, animation/interval/self timers and built-in random
assemble edit system.
So far it all sounds rather familiar, until you get to the price, which
is just £700, that's £150 less than the AX75! So what's missing? The AX60
dispenses with its predecessor's digital zoom and electronic image stabiliser,
but in their place are a bundle of useful new features which includes a
power-saving auto-pause facility, dual-mode title generator, Canon-inspired
pop-up video light, twin battery chearger, plus a major re-vamp of the controls
and layout.
We're pleased to see the AX60 comes with an RM-V704 remote control
handset. This was one of the star features on the AX75, and it marked the end
of a long-running disputre we had with JVC which revolved around them selling
remote handsets as optional extras. It wouldn't have been so bad had it not
been for the fact that the remote was the only way access half a dozen or so
important features, including the likes of audio dub and insert edit. Mind you, they're not
completely cured and it's still an option on the AX30.
The remote handset contains the brains for the AX60's random assemble
edit feature. It's basically the same system as the one on the AX55/75, the
handset connects to the camcorder controlling the replay of up to eight
selected scenes at a time. Edit in and out points are shown on the machine's
on-screen display and video output. The handset also controls the record/pause
function on the destination VCR, it contains an infra-red command library
covering around twenty different brands of video recorder. The system is very
simple to use, reasonably accurate and a big incentive for newcomers to
progress beyond basic video movie making.
JVC have come up with a couple of new ideas on the AX60's controls.
They've combined the functions of power on/off, record/play mode select and
record-stop/start into a single switch. It's not as cumbersome as it sounds,
and once you've got used to it, is actually very easy to use. The position of
the zoom rocker is adjustable, to suit different sized hands; we're not so sure
about this one, it makes the switch feel a little rickety, and one big-handed
tester complained that none of the three positions felt particularly
comfortable. The transport controls all live under a flap built into the
handset. Bad idea! It makes them awkward to get at when the machine is in the
shooting/review position; it doesn't help having tiny black, close-set buttons
on a black panel either.
There's worse to come. JVC have revived an old trick whereby manual focus
is controlled from the zoom rocker. It doesn't take a genius to work out that
you can't focus and zoom at the same time. Moreover, you have to keep the
manual focus button pressed when setting the focus, it's stiff and induces
camera shake, so don't try it when recording. There's no external microphone
socket, which limits the usefulness of the audio dub facility.
It's not all bad news, built-in lens covers are always welcome, the
selector for the AE system is large and easy to use, and the AX60 has two
titling systems. There's eight preset titles (congratulations, happy birthday
etc), plus you can add an second line from a character set displayed in the
viewfinder screen. Auto pause is another new feature, for JVC at least; the
machine goes into record-pause mode if its left recording and pointing at the
ground for more than a couple of seconds. And yes, before you ask, it can be
switched off. The change to a pop-up video light makes the machine look a lot
less bulbous, and unlike most other built-in lights its automatic and will come
on when the light falls below a pre-set level. Don't expect too much, the
output is fairly low, good enough for close-up shots or dingy corners, though.
PERFORMANCE
We didn't expect to find much difference between the AX60 and the earlier
AX machines as they're fairly similar inside. However, our sample, admittedly
an early one, was very average. Resolution was below 240 lines, though noise
levels and colour accuracy were both very good. The AF system didn't inspire a
great deal of confidence, it clearly
preferred well-lit scenes; indoors, even in quite good light it hunted
around, which was all the more irritating given the difficulty in focusing
manually.
The on-board microphone was an improvement though, the handling and motor
noises that were evident on the AX75 were nowhere to be heard. Although the
AX60 only has a mono soundtrack it's reasonably free of hiss.
Random assemble editing is as good as ever, accuracy is in the order of
+/-15 to 20 frames, or half a second or so, though it depends to a large extent
on the characteristics of the record VCR. Unfortunately there's no way of
correcting edit points or VCR timing errorss but with practice they can be
compensated for.
THE VERDICT
On balance we like the AX60. The good points are undoubtedly the price,
editing system and feature list, and they outweigh the bad ones which include
the rather hit-and-miss controls and indifferent performance; that's something
we'll be addressing as soon as we can get our hands on another test sample.
Cautiously reccommended.
SIDEBAR 1
AX60 ALTERNATIVES
Joining the AX60 this Summer will be the AX40 and AX70. The principle
differences between the AX 40 and 60 are the lack of a video light, and the
remote control handset is an optional extra, this is reflected in the price
which is £50 below the AX60. The AX70, on the other hand, costs £50 more than
the AX60, and for thatyou get a LCD colour viewfinder. JVC make no special
claims for it, other than to say in their publicity blurb that: 'To many people
the colour image will simply look better and more familiar to their eyes'.
We'll leave it to you to decide if that's worth an extra fifty quid...
THE RIVALS
The sub £700 sector of the market has been looking fairly dull lately, so
perhaps the AX60 will liven things up a bit. The best of the rest has to be the
Samsung E405, a well equipped 8mm stereo palmcorder for £650, and the Panasonic
NV-R10, which also costs £700. It's a good all-rounder, a good deal smaller
than the AX60, and it has an editing
terminal, which may interest more advanced users.
SPECIFICATIONS
Make/model JVC GR-AX60
Recording format VHS-C
Guide price £700
OPTICS
Lens f/1.8, 5.5-66mm
Zoom x12
Filter diameter 43mm
Pick-up device 0.3in CCD
Min. illum. (lux) 2
VIDEO DECK
Long Play (LP) yes
Max. rec. time
90mins (LP mode)
IR remote control yes
Edit terminal yes (see text)
MAIN FACILITIES
Auto Focus yes
Manual focus yes
Auto exposure yes
Programmed AE yes
(6-mode)
Fader yes
Manual white balance yes
Auto white balance yes
Manual zoom no
Power zoom yes
Insert edit yes
Character generator yes
Digital Superimposer no
Image stabiliser no
Video light yes
Battery refresh yes
Accessory shoe no
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
time/date recording, self-timer,
time-lapse, high-speed shutter (1-speed 1/8000th sec), record review,
retake, animation effect, audio dub, random-assemble edit controller, cinema
mode, 'instant' titles, adjustable zoom rocker, built-in lens cover, twin
battery charger, auto-pause
VIEWFINDER
Viewfinder 0.6in monochrome
Viewfinder info.
deck mode and status, low battery, tape count, shutter speed, fader,
focus mode, tape end, time/date, title, AE mode, dew
AUDIO
Stereo
no
Audio dub
yes
Wind noise filter no
Mic socket
no
Headphone socket no
Microphone
unidirectional electret
GENERAL
Sockets audio and video out
(phono), edit and remote (minijack)
Size (mm) 115 x 118 x 182
Weight
kg (inc. tape and battery)
STANDARD ACCESSORIES
Batteries, (nicad and lithium), straps, AC charger/power supply,
AV lead yes
video light? yes (built-in)
remote control? yes
cassette adaptor? yes
RF Converter? no
SCART adaptor? yes
PERFORMANCE
Resolution
>230 -lines
Colour fidelity
good
Picture stability
very good
Colour bleed
none
White balance very
good
Exposure
average
Autofocus
fair
Audio performance good
Insert edit
very good
Playback thru adaptor very good
VC RATINGS
Value for money 8
Ease of use 8
Performance 8
Features 9
---end---
R Maybury 1994 1904
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